Flash light



'2 wins-SHEET 1.

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Mar. '13, 1923.

E. R. BARANY ET AL.

ELAsH Llc-HT. FILED SEPT. 14, 1921- Mar. 13, 1923. 1,448,352.

. l E. R. BARANY ET AL.

FLASH LIGHT.

FILED SEPT. 14, 1921. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

35% Mmmm@ Patented Mar. 13, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND R. BARANY AND LEON B. MANSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NORS TO FRANCO ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FLASH LIGHT.

Application led September 14, 1921. Serial No. 500,508.

To @ZZ Iwhom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, llDMUND R. BARANY, a citizen of the United States, and LEON B.

' Manson, a citizen of Russia, residents respectively of the city, county7 and State of New York7 have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flash Lights, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to portable electric lamps of the class commonly known as flashlights.

Flashligl'its of the types most widely eX- ploited today depend entirely upon a single bulb asa source of light which may and often does burn out at the instant a light is most needed, thus leaving the user of the 'flashlight suddenly in darkness without any reserve or 4auxiliaryA light to be had, under what may prove to be very annoying or even hazardous circumstances.

Devices of this character are therefore v very unreliable and for this reason are open to serious objections, the removal of which constitutes one of the important objects of our invention.

Anotherl object of our invention is to provide in a flashlight a means by which a primary lamp and one or more auxiliary lamps may be so mountedy andsupported with respect to the reflector as to permit the light rays to be projected, upon the reflector in an unobstructed manner.

A further object of our invention is to provide in a device of the class mentioned a means whereby a single switch actuating mechanism may be employed to control one or more of the several circuits connecting the plurality of lamps with the source of electric supply. y

A still further object is to so construct and arrange the various elements entering linto the combination embodying our inven- Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Figure 3. i

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a multiple switch element.

- Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the circuits through which the plurality of lamps receive their supply of electric current.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown what we at present consider the preferred embodiment of our invention, the numeral 10 indicates a casing or container, constructed preferably of fibre, or other suitable insulating material, carrying therein a source of electric supply which we have in this instance shown as a single battery 11 of ordinary construction`r in which the lowermost Zinc container 12 thereof constitutes an electrode adapted to .be placed in circuit with the uppermost carbon electrode 13 and aplnrality of lamps hereinafter more specifically referred to. While we prefer, as above stated, to construct the casing or container of fibre or other suitable insulatins; material, in order to insulate from each other the several elements hereinafter referreil to, which constitute the circuit through which the current passes when the lamps are placed in circuit with the battery 117 itv adapted for screw thread engagement with a lens ring 15, which serves to maintain a lens or a glass closure 16 in position and in intimate'contact with the outer end of a reflector 17 which is seated upon the end of the casing or container 10. By reason of the fact that the reflector 17 is seated directly upon the casing or container 10, it is evident that the same is necessarily maintained centrally located with respect to the container 10 when the lens or-glass plate 16 is forced into contact with the outer end of the reflector 17 by the lens ring 15.` It will be noted that the reflector receiving head 14 and the reflector 17 are at their outer ends spaced a sufficient distance from each other to insure perfect insulation therebetween,

and the reflector receivingy head 14 is increasingly spaced rearwardly from the reflector 17 due to the different radii ofecurvature maintained between Vthese two elementsy in order tovprovide abullb spacef18'.

The reflector 17 which maybe termed a primary reflector is provided with oppositely disposed openings 19 within which are fitted auxiliary reflectors 20 tapered rearwardly and terminating in bulb receiving sockets 2 1 adapted-to receive auxiliary lamps 22. The reflectors 2() serve not only as reflectors for the auxiliary lamps 22, but also as supports therefor, and are 'so shaped as to accommodate the lamp bulbs 23 which 'a means for reflecting the light rays which aregiy'en off thereby,l whereas the lamps 23 depend: to a less degree upon the reflector 17 for reflecting the light rays emitted lthereby.` It will be appreciated, however', that the reflectors 20, serving also' as supports for the lamps 23y as herei'nbeforey mentioned, function co-operatively with the reflector 17 for reflecting the light rays given off by the lamps 23, and inasmuch as the `greater portions of thev lamps 22 are disposed out of the curvature of the reflector 17, it will be appreciated that light rays are permitted to. pass from the lamp 24 to the reflector 17 vention, the reflector 17' is so inserted that the auxiliary reflectors 2 0 enter` the notches '27, andfbein'g thus positioned any relative turning movement of the reflector with resp'ec't tothe container is prevented vwhen the closurelG and lens ring 15 are applied.

The battery 11 is electrically connected with the'reflector 17 by means of a contact strip 28l suitably secured to the container 10 and having one of its ends bent slightly over the edge' of theI container, as .Shown at 29, so as to intimately contact with .the reflector 17 when the same is assembled in al proper relation with respect to'the container 10. The opposite end of the contact'stri a 28 is bent to provide a contact arm 30, whic is more or less resilient and maintained in intimate engagement with the carbon electrode, 13 by reasonof the. longitudinal thrust constantly exerted upon the battery 11'by means of the conventional type of spring 31 carried at the opposite end of the battery and held in position by means of a screw threaded closure 32 carried by the container 10, but adapted to be removed therefrom to permit the removal of the battery 11 in order that thesame may be replaced with a new one when desired.

It will be understood that the lamps 22 and 24 above referred to. are of ordinary construction and that by reason of either their direct or indirect connect-ion with the reflector 17', they are therefore electrically connected with the carbon` electrode 13 through the reflector and the contact strip 28. lThe lamps 22 and 24 are each co-operatively associated with conductors 33 and 34 leading respectively therefrom. The conductors 33 it will be noted are oppositely or diametrically disposed and are arrangedlad-v jacent the openings 27 so that, when the reflector 17 is properly positioned with respect to the container 10, a positive contact between the lamps 22 and the conductors 33 is insured. The conductors 33 are bent into.I r

an angular shape andare connected to iconductors 35 which are suitably securedy to the container 10. The conductor 34 leading from the primary lamp 24 isfat its upper end disposed substantially inea plane'trans# verse to the axis of the container 10 and is bent to provide a relatively long conductor strip 36 which is suitably secured to the container 10 by means 0f rivets or the like 37 and 38, the rivet 38 serving as a'v contact point as will hereinafter appear.

The conductors are connected to conducl tor strips 39 which are secured to the container 1() by means of rivets 40 and' 42, the rivets 42 serving also as contact points, theV function of which willA hereinafter more clearly appear.

ln order to place the conductor strips 36 and 39 in circuit with the battery 11 -to establish a circuit 'through th'e'lamps 22 and 24, we provide a switch indicated a. whole bytlie numeral The switch comprises al contact element 44 fo'nstructed from a more or less resilient material an'dprovided with contact larms 45 and 46 carrying respecn tively lugs 47 and 48. Thel contact element 44. which is rigidly connected to the container 10'. is electrically connected with the battery 11 by means of a'conductor str-ip 49, one end of which is maintained in con-4 tact with the screw cap 32, whereas the other end is connectedv tov the contact element 44 by means of al rivet'or the like 50. lThe ends of the contact'arms 45 and 46'are disposed opposite the contact points' and 42 of the conductor strips 36 and 39 respectively, and are normally spaced an appreciable distance from said contact points as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 5. A housing` 5l is provided which encloses the contact element 44 in order to protect the same and insure the contact fingers 45 and 46 against being accidentally moved into contact with their re- Speetive co-operative contact points 38 and 42. 1n order to move the Contact lingers 45 and 46 into contact respectively with the contact points 38 and 42, we provide a switch lactuating member 52, of usual construction,

which is free to slide upon the housing 5l into contact with and over the lugs 4T and 48 carried respectively by the fingers 45 and 46, which lugs project upwardly through the housing 5l.y From an inspection of the circuit employed in connection with `our inven- `be placed in circuit with the battery l1 by proper manipulation of the switch actuating member 52. 1n the event that a light oit ordinary brilliancy is desired, the switch ac tuating member 52 is moved a sufficient distance to close the circuit through the primary lamp 24 by placing the contact finger 45 in electric engagement with the contact point 38, but in the event a more brilliant light should be desired, the switch actuating member 52 may be moved a sufficient dis'-y tance to close the circuit through one or both of the auxiliary lamps 22 by depressing either one or both of the contact arms 46 into electrical. engagement with either one or both of the contact points 42. From the construction which we `have disclosed it evident that should the primary bulb 25 suddenly burn out, leaving the user of the fiashlight temporarily in the dark, the circuit may be readily closed througheither or both of the auxiliary lamps 22, in order to furnish a light sufficiently brilliant for all practical purposes. Not only does the construction which we have disclosed afford a means by which an auxiliary' light may be had almost instantly in case the primary lamp 24 should burn out, but also a means `by which a. combination of different colored lights may be employed for various signaling purposes. Should` a combination such for example as white, red and blue be desired, the lamps 22` which for ordinary use are pro-A vided with` clear glass bulbs, are removed from their sockets 2i to permit the insertion of lamps having red and blue bulbs, the lamp 24 being retained with its clear glass bulb 25 as a source of white light. 1t may be appreciated therefore that should it be desired to transmit a signal by a white light the switch actuating mechanism 52 may be moved a sufiicient distance to depress t-lie contact arm 45vinto engagement with thecontact point 38, thereby closing the circuit through this particular lamp and the battery 11, and should it be desired to display a red and blue light in combination with the white light, the switch actuating member 52 may be moved a sufficient distance to depress the contact arms 46 into engagement with their respective contact points 42, thereby placing the battery l1 in circuit with the lamps having the red and blue bulbs.

While we have shown a switch actuating mechanism adapted to co-operate with the contact arms to close the circuit through the lamps, it is evident that, since the lugs and 48 project an appreciable distance through the housings 51, the user of the fiashlight may with his thumb or fingers selectively depress the Contact arms 45 and 46 to establish a circuit through any one o-r any combination of the lamps desired, thereby making possible` the transmission of a greater number of signals than is possible when the switch actuating mechanism is depended upon as a means for closing the. circuits through the lamps. By reason of the fact that the contact arms 45 and 46 are spaced an appreciable distance from eachl other and the 4lugs 47 and 48 carried'respectively thereby are projected through the` housings 5l ina staggered relation with respect to each other, the user ot' the fiashlight may easily locate a switch arm adapted to close the circuit through a selected rlamp or number of switch :ii-nis to close the cir. cuits through any desired combination ot the lamps.

`We have not attempted to point out the many specilicuses `to whicha flashlight embodying our invention may be put, but it may be appreciated that it is capable of a varied range of application becauseY of its adaptability as a signal and because of its reliability as a flashlight, and it maybe further appreciated from a study ofy the` 1 `have shown and described as the preferred embodiment of our device, may be made without departing Jfrom the vspirit of the invention or the scope of the subj oining claims.

147e claim: l. A fiashlight comprising a container, a

reflector receiving'head, a refieetor arranged within'said head Vand seated upon one end of said container, said reector being spaced at its forward end an appreciabley distance from said head and increasingly spaced rearwardly therefrom, and means vfor retaining said reflector seated upon said container and centrally disposed with respect to the vairis of said head whereby the spaced relation between the head and reflectoi1 is maintained to insure insulation of said head frofn said reflector.

2. A flashlight comprising a battery, a plurality of lamps adapted to be placed in circuit with said battery, a switch for controlling` the circuits through said lapapa-said switch comprising a plurality of Contact arms, lugs carried by said contact arms, said lugs being staggered with respect to each other, a housing'for said contact arms` said housingl being provided with openings through which said lugs project, and a switch actua-ting' member adapted to co-operate with each of said lugs for depressing` 'said contact4 arms into circuit-closingy positions, l 3. A flashlight comprisinga container ha'ving notches therein at one end of the same, a reflector receiving head, a reector arranged within said head, a plurality of lamp supports secured to said reflector and projecting rearwardly therefrom, said supports being arranged within said notches formed in said container, whereby said reflector is retained against rotative movement with respect to the container, lamps carried by said lamp supports, a source of electrical energy for said lamps, and means for electrically connecting'said lamps in circuit with said sourcer Aof energy.

4. A flashlight comprising a battery, a pluralityv of lamps adapted to be placed in circuit with said battery, a switch for controllingi the circuits through said lamps, said switch comprising a plurality of arms adapted to be electrically connected in circuit with said lamps, and a movable switch actuating means adapted' to be so moved as to maintain all of said arms in circuit closing positions at the same time.

5. Aflashlight comprising a battery, a plurality of lamps adapted to be placed incircuit with said battery, a switch for controlling vthe circuits through said lamps, said switch 'comprising a plurality of arms adapted to be electrically connected in circuit with said. lamps, and a movable switch actuating` member 'adapted to be so moved as to maintain all ofsaid arms in circuit closing positions at the same time.

G. A flashlight comprising a battery, a

plurality of lamps adapted to be placed in p circuit with said battery, a switch for controlling the circuits through said lamps, said switch" comprising a plurality of arms adapted to be electrically connected in circuit' with said lamps, and a movable switch actuating member adapted to be so actuated as to progressively move said arms into cirrai-ideas cuit closing positions and thereafter maintain them in their respective circuit closing positions.

7. A flashlight comprising a container adapted to receive a source of electrical energy, said container being provided at one end thereof with diametrically disposed notches, a reflector' head associated with said container, a primary reflector arranged within said head and adapted to seat upon said container, a plurality of auxiliary reflectors carried by said primary reflector, said auxiliary reflectors terminating in rearwardly projecting lamp sockets adapted'to enter said diametrically disposed notches whereby said primary reflector is retained against rotation with respect to said container, electric lamps carried by said lamp sockets, and means for placing` said lamps xin electric circuit with said source of electrical energy.

8. A flashlight comprising a container adapted to receive a source of electrical energy, a reflector, a plurality of lamps associated with said reflector, conductor strips leading individually to said lamps, said co'nductor strips beingcarried by said container, movable contact members adapted to cooperate with said conductor strips for closing` the circuit through said lamp-s, means electrically connecting said contact members with said source of electricalenergy, and means adapted to so cooperate with said contact members as to move them progressively into cooperative relation with said conductor strips and thereafter retain' adapted to receive a source of electrical en` ergy, a reflector, a plurality of lamps associated witli said reflector, conductors leading` to said lamps, a switch adapted to control the flow of current through said lamps,

said switch comprising a contact element' having' a plurality of resilient contact arms associated therewith, and movable means adapted to so actuate as to progressively move said resilient arms whereby the circuits through said lamps are successively closed. ln testimony whereof, we have afliXed our signatures to this specification.

EDMUND R. BARANY.

LEON B. MANSION. 

